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Bailey learning tricks of 'pen trade on fly

Bailey learning tricks of 'pen trade on fly

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PHILADELPHIA -- Reds pitcher Homer Bailey has 56 big league starts for his young career, but as he enters the bullpen for the playoffs, his resume as a reliever is quite light. Bailey has made one relief appearance in his pro career, and it came in August while on an injury rehab assignment for Triple-A Louisville.

"I didn't give up a run. That's all that's important. It was a clean inning," Bailey said.

Now on the biggest stage he's ever been on, Bailey and lefty starter Travis Wood could be called to put out fires in the later innings while learning how to do the job. Wood also has no experience as a reliever.

"Me and Woody talked about that and we'll just try to stay loose during the whole game," said Bailey, who was 4-3 with a 4.46 ERA in 19 starts this season. "When you're at this stage of the season, you're working so much on adrenaline. I don't think there's any problem. Anybody that's played this game is a competitor and wants the ball. When that time comes when I'm needed, I will do whatever I can to do a good job."

Reds manager Dusty Baker said that Wood can warm up quicker than Bailey, which could be a concern if the Phillies start a big rally.

"Sometimes things happen so quickly that you can't get guys loose quick enough," Baker said. "Everybody will say, 'Get him outta there,' but the guy might have thrown five pitches in the bullpen. You've seen sometimes where five, six pitches could be three or four runs. Things happen very quickly."